Properties and thermal decomposition of the double salts of uranyl nitrate-ammonium nitrate

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-6031(89)87154-0· OSTI ID:5385406

Notz, K J; Haas, P A

The formation of ammonium nitrate-uranyl nitrate double salts has important effects on the thermal denitration process for the preparation of UO{sub 3} and on the physical properties of the resulting product. Analyses were performed, and properties and decomposition behavior were determined for three double salts: NH{sub 4}UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 3}, (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 4}, and (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 4} {center dot} 2H{sub 2}O. The trinitrate salt decomposes without melting at 270--300{degrees}C to give a {gamma}-UO{sub 3} powder of {approximately} 3-{mu}m average size, with good ceramic properties for fabrication into UO{sub 2}nuclear fuel pellets. The tetranitrate dihydrate melts at 48{degrees}C; it also dehydrates to the anhydrous salt. The anhydrous tetranitrate decomposes exothermically, without melting, at 170--270{degrees}C by losing one mole of ammonium nitrate to form the trinitrate salt. 17 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5385406
• Report Number(s): CONF-891206-1; ON: DE89004909
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050700* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Fuels Production & Properties
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360602 -- Other Materials-- Structure & Phase Studies
360603 -- Materials-- Properties
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM NITRATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COHERENT SCATTERING
CRYSTALLIZATION
DECOMPOSITION
DENITRATION
DIFFRACTION
MORPHOLOGY
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SALTS
SAMPLE PREPARATION
SCATTERING
SYNERGISM
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM OXIDES
URANYL COMPOUNDS
URANYL NITRATES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION